"Ah, so we'd better not be too ostentatious during this period." Gran nodded solemnly, offering his advice.
"It's really annoying... I seriously want to kill that werewolf." Dix curled his lips and frowned deeply, frustration clear on his face.
"It's a pity you're no match for Bete," came a voice that cut through the tension like a blade, reaching the ears of everyone in the Ikelos familia.
In an instant, the entire group snapped into a state of high alert and even Dix was caught off guard.
He hadn't expected to be approached so closely without noticing beforehand.
His sharp eyes, hidden beneath his goggles, scanned rapidly until they locked onto a figure standing on a tree branch.
Dix's pupils shrank in disbelief, and he spat out, "It's you!!!"
The others followed his gaze and saw Leon standing there.
A heavy breath swept through the Ikelos familia.
In the past few days, the guild had officially passed the title of the strongest adventurer in Orario from the fierce Ottar to Leon.
The news had reached even the Ikelos familia.
Now, seeing Leon here, so close and so unyielding, a wave of dread settled over them.
Gran and the others silently acknowledged Leon as an enemy.
If things escalated, their fate would be grim.
Even Dix felt that chill of despair but forced himself to stay calm.
He looked Leon straight in the eyes and spoke in a measured tone rare for his usual temperament.
"Leon, what brings you here all of a sudden?"
Dix's calm was an attempt to avoid provoking conflict.
Leon had snatched the strongest adventurer title from Ottar's grasp—his strength was undeniable.
Even against a Lv. 6, the combined power of the entire Ikelos familia would not be a match.
This was why Dix hadn't protested when Gran warned him to keep a low profile as Bete, a level 6 adventurer was hunting them.
But Leon clearly had no interest in idle talk. As soon as Dix finished speaking, he moved.
From beneath the big tree where he stood, a dark shadow surged forth, expanding rapidly.
In an instant, it transformed into a vast, oppressive dark sky, swallowing the area and everyone in it.
Then, the darkness shattered suddenly, revealing the scene beneath.
In less than a second, black shadowy tentacles snaked out, binding every member of the Ikelos familia tight—Dix included.
In a flash, a B-rank familia with a first-class adventurer was completely subdued.
"His power... it's terrifying."
"Leon! Why are you attacking us?!" Gran, tightly restrained and utterly helpless, shouted in panic.
The others echoed similar cries, all equally trapped.
Even Dix stared in shock, unable to comprehend how quickly he had been rendered powerless.
The strongest adventurer in the city—this was the overwhelming might of that title.
Leon paid no mind to their fear. Leaping down from the tree, he strode straight to Dix.
With Dix's pupils narrowed in alarm, Leon pressed a hand firmly against his forehead.
'World Contract—sign it!'
'Hand over all the keys!'
The World Contract ability was insanely powerful—too buggy to be used frivolously.
But facing Evilus, Leon's usual restraint vanished. These Ikelos familia members were his sworn enemies.
Unlike Filvis, who had become nourishment for his growth, these villains were only obstacles.
Leon had no time to waste. He activated the World Contract without hesitation, forcing them to hand over the keys to the artificial maze.
Speaking of which, against Filvis, Leon had been much stronger but chose not to use this ability, preferring a personal revenge.
This time, though, he was blunt and ruthless.
Under the contract's power, the Ikelos familia produced the key to the artificial maze.
With the key secured, Leon quickly finished dealing with them.
To be honest, this was the first time Leon had killed an adventurer.
Filvis didn't count—she was already a creature.
Still, Leon felt no remorse.
These foes could never be allowed to continue threatening the Xenos.
Wiene would live with the Xenos for some time.
Who knew what irreversible damage could come if these Evilus members were left alive?
They deserved death.
After Leon wiped out the Ikelos familia, Ray and the others arrived—too late to intervene.
They didn't dare come closer, only following from a distance using their special monster-sensing abilities.
By the time they reached the scene, Leon had already finished his grim work.
"Are they all dead?!" Fels's voice cut through the silence as he surveyed the fallen enemies.
He spoke calmly, with no trace of emotion.
Fels cared little that Leon had killed the Ikelos familia.
In his eyes, anyone able to access and move freely within the artificial maze had to be part of Evilus.
Fels held no mercy for such destroyers of the city.
After centuries of existence, compassion was no longer in his nature.
And as for the Xenos, it was even less likely that they'd sympathize with those monsters.
They only wished the Ikelos familia gone, after losing many comrades to their hands.
"Thank you, Leon-sama." Ray expressed gratitude, joined by the other Xenos.
The death of the Ikelos familia lifted a heavy burden from their hearts.
"You're welcome." Leon replied with a modest shake of his head and a faint smile.
"Are those the keys to the artificial maze?" Fels asked, eyeing the spherical object in Leon's hand.
"Yes." Leon nodded.
The orb resembled a giant eyeball, marked with the Daedalus symbol—the key to the maze.
"Fels, I'll give you three days to see if you can unlock it." Leon said, tossing the orb toward him.
"Leave it to me." Fels replied confidently, stretching out his skeletal hand.
As a sage who had lived for centuries, he had mastered mysteries and magics far beyond ordinary.
Given time, breaking this magical seal was no challenge.
"Then it's your responsibility." Leon said.
"As I mentioned before, try to rescue adventurers caught in traps who don't seem malevolent."
"June will assist you." Leon added, turning to Ray and the others, entrusting them with the task.